The Earl of Ramsden and his faithful servant, Humphries, set out a whole day ahead of Cornelia, and on Reuben’s instructions, they were not to stop over halfway, but to push on through in order to arrive the very same day at Chittenden.
Reuben was feeling more nervous than he had felt in years; ever since, in fact, he was waiting for his graduation results from university. He had, thankfully passed, but only just and his nerves had been in tatters wondering how on Earth he would explain himself to his rather austere father... Reuben Wolseley I, Earl of Ramsden.
Humphries cleared his throat and decided to brave his master’s wrath by asking the most impertinent question ever, “Have you, ah, feelings for the duke’s wife, sir?”
“I beg your pardon, Humphries?” Reuben blustered, clearly shaken by the question.
Humphries wrinkled his brow and pressed on. “The duchess, Emilia. Have you met her before?”
“I have never met her, no.” Reuben was speaking in clipped tones and sending a clear message to Humphries that the conversation was over. Humphries however was not finished. Like a dog with a bone, his imagination had been piqued and he wanted to get to the bottom of it. He shifted in his seat and fixed Reuben with a look of utter disbelief.
Reuben sighed and held up his hands, “Fine, fine. I have, very briefly, met her before. It was the most memorable night of my life and we only spoke a handful of words to each other. She is a compelling creature. She is quite possibly – no, most definitely – the most desirable woman I have ever met and am ever likely to meet. So, in answer to your question, not to put too fine a point on it, yes – I am in love with the duchess, and to think that she actually went ahead and married that, that, that popinjay, makes me sick!”
Reuben had never admitted this before and Humphries regarded him in some surprise, “So, what exactly happened, then?” he pressed, “when you briefly met?”
Reuben let out a sigh and shrugged helplessly. “Oh, I don’t know,” he shook his head, “there was a moment, it was fleeting, but it happened... we shared a...” He trailed off, unable to find the right words, for there may not have been a moment after all. He couldn’t even begin to describe their meeting. What? Reuben thought to himself. What exactly did we share? Absolutely nothing. It’s all in your head, you foolish man. Pull yourself together, you’re getting fanciful!
Humphries was eyeing him sympathetically and didn’t press him for more detail. “So, what are your plans?”
Turning tortured eyes on his butler, and closest confidante, Reuben answered honestly. “I really don’t know!”
Humphries stroked his chin. “It’s all beginning to make sense, now.” He mused.
“What is?” asked Reuben, feeling ever-so-slightly indignant at Humphries tone.
Humphries eyed him, looking, to Reuben, far too amused at his terrible predicament, “Well, I’ve been wondering why you’ve been behaving rather like an adolescent in love for the first time...” he trailed off before frowning at Reuben and opening his mouth to continue, “and having known you my whole life, I have never, in living memory, known you to behave like an adolescent in love – because you never have been – well, not until now...”
Reuben shifted uncomfortably in his seat, “Yes, well.” He muttered, going red. “no one wants to admit to unrequited love...”
Humphries suppressed a smile, clearly not believing a word. “Well. Maybe not. Who’s to say it was a love match, with Isaac? She might be remembering you in the same way as you are remembering her. She might be glad to see the back of him. This could be your way back into her life, her heart...”
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